Improvement in stage machinery



tion of my present invention. Fig. 4 is a hor- UNITED" STA'rns Orrron.

JAMES sononnnne, on ivnvvvonn, n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STAGE MACHINERY} Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,725, dated April 8, 1873; application filed October 31, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SoHoNBERG, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented. a new and useful Improvement in Stage Machinery; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact-description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin g forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure 1 represents a sectional side view of one portion of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a stage, showing another porizontal section of the same in the line as 00, Fig. 2.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of stage machinery which I have described in Letters Patent No. 123,735, granted to me February 13,1872. My present improvement consists in combining with the top slide a rising-and-falling pin, which acts in conjunction with an incline on the upper edge of the scene-frame and with a lifter in such a manner that when the scene-frame is pushed in line with the top slide the pin is elevated by the incline until it reaches the socket, into which it falls, allowing the sceneframe to be turned in either direction, while the top slide permits of carrying the same in or out to any desired position, and when the scene-frame is pushed in the pin is automatically disengaged from the socket in the top of said frame by traversing up the lifter until it falls through an orifice provided therefor, the pin thus being then ready for a repeated action, while the frame can be taken away without diificulty. The operation of turning the scene-frame is facilitated by an eccentric foot secured to its bottom part. My improvement consists also in the arrangement of a post with a foot fitting in a corresponding socket in a carriage which moves in guide-ways prepared in the floor-timbers of the stage, said post being provided with a hook-shaped pivot near its foot, and with a slide carrying a pin near its top, while the scene-frame is provided with two sockets, one to engage with the bottom pin, and the other to engage with the top pin, in such a manner that by means of the post and its carriage the scene-frame can be readily moved to any part of the stage traversed by its post and carriage, and then turned in either direction, and the frame can be readily disengaged when the same is to be put away.

In the drawing, the letter A designates the top slide, which moves in and out between rollerguides a secured to the beams of the gallery. In the outer end of said top slide is a socket to receive a pin, 12, which drops down to the position shown in Fig. 1 by its inhe rent gravity; but if the top slide is pushed in, the head of the pin rides upon the inclined lifter c, which is secured to one of the beams, and by this means the pin is automatically raised. 13 is the scene-frame, which is provided in its top with a groove, the bottom of which forms an incline, d d, terminating in a socket, c. If the scene-frame is pushed under the top slide, the pin 1) is gradually pushed up on the incline 01 until it drops down into the socket c, and as soon as this takes place the scene-frame is connected to the top slide, so that when said frame is pushed out still further the top slide will move with it until it is arrested by a latch-stop, f, engaging with a notch in the slide. The scene-frame can then be turned freely in either direction, and, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of turning the same, it is provided with an cecentric foot, g, which can be brought in or out of action at will by a cord or other appliance, which causes the foot to'turn on its axis and the scene-frame to rest on said foot. By releasing the foot it turns back out of action. When the scene-frame is-pushedin the top slide moves with it until the pin bis automatically raised out of the socket c by the action of the lifter 0, when the frame is released, so that it can befreely removed, while the pin, when carried upon the lifter until its head stands over the orifice 0*, Fig. 2, drops down ready for a subsequent action. In the floortimbers of the stage C, Fig. 3, are provided guide-ways r, on which moves a carriage, D. This carriage is provided with a socket, 7', to receive the foot of the post E. The opening in the stage may be closed by an ordinary sruto, F, or by traps or other means generally employed for this purpose. On the post, near its foot, is secured a hook-shaped pin, l, and on the upper part of said post is fitted a sleeve, m, which can be raised or lowered by means of a cord, n, and which contains a pin, 0, as shown in Fig. 3. The scene-frame B is pro; vided with a socketpiece, 19,110 catch over the hook-pin l, and with another socket-piece, q, to engage with the pin 0. By means of the sleeve m the pin 0 can be adjusted for different scene-frames at various heights. When the scene-frame is attached to the pins 0 and l, as above stated, it is securely supported on top and bottom, and it can be moved with the post E, or turned in either direction; and, furthermore, the scene-frame can be disengaged in the same manner in which it is attached.

By these means the operation of adjusting scene-frames in the required position, and of removing them from the stage, is materially facilitated. 1

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The rising-and-falling pin 11 and lifter c,

in combination with a scene-frame, constructed and operating substantially in the manner herein shown and described.

2. The arrangement of an eccentric foot on the scene-frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The post E, fitting in a corresponding socket in a carriage moving on guide-ways in the floor-timbers of the stage, said post being provided with pins Z 0 to engage with a sceneframe, substantially in the manner described.

4. The sleeve m fitted on the post E and carrying a pin, 0, to engage with a socketpiece, g, on the sceneframe, substantially in the manner set forth. v

JAS. SOHONBERG. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENIIUBER. 

